Arrives before Christmas 
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Head assembly and adjustable shank feature a maximum rise of 6-1/2" and a maximum drop of 1-1/4". Head is designed to work with your Reese trunnion-bar weight-distribution system. Includes necessary hardware.
Features:
Specs:
California residents: click here
Videos are provided as a guide only. Refer to manufacturer installation instructions and specs for complete information.
Today we'll be reviewing part number RP54980. This is the Reese Replacement Head and Shank for Reese Weight Distribution Systems with Trunnion Bars. It's going to feature a forged raised ball platform that's going to eliminate the need for a raised hitch ball. It's also going to feature an adjustable shank. It's going to have six different mount holes on it. Center-on-center, those are going to be separated by an inch and a quarter. The adjustable shank can be used in either the drop or rise position. The mounting hardware and the serrated washers are included so you're going to get the two large bolts.
You're going to get two serrated washers, one on each side. You're going to get the lock washers and also the nuts that go on the bolts. The serrated washers are great to have because they're going to allow the head to pivot without adding any additional spacers or washers to the unit. This portion here is going to slide into the 2-inch x 2-inch trailer hitch receiver. You're going to push it in until you get your pin holes to line up with one another and then you'll need to install a hitch pin and clip or a hitch pin and lock. Those are going to be sold separately.
You can find those on our website so you can check that out for more options if you don't already have one. It's going to give us a tongue weight capacity of 1500 pounds with a weight distribution trailer weight of 15,000 pounds. We take a measurement from the distance of the center of the ball hole to the center of the hitch pin hole. Since there are two pin holes, I'm going to measure directly in between those pin holes. That's where we're going to get a 14-inch measurement from. With it installed in the rise position, you're going to have a rise of 6-1/2 inches and in the drop position, which is how it's set up, is going to offer a drop of an inch and a quarter. The shank bar length is going to be measuring from the end of the shank to the back of the upright portion of the shank and that's going to give us a measurement of 12-1/4 of an inch. This is made from a solid steel construction.
It has a really nice black powder-coated finish on it so it is going to stand up really well against rust and corrosion. That's going to do it for our review of part number RP54980. This is the Reese Replacement Head and Shank for Reese Weight Distribution Systems with Trunnion Bars. .
Very nicely built. A lot of adjustment available to the product.
Works exactly as expected. Good quality. Fast order fulfillment from etrailer.
the spacer that came with head and shank for the ball was hard to get off the bolts. The bolt needed to be removed with a breaker bar or impact wrench. then needed a torq wrench to put back together.
also there wasn't a trunnion bar with the head and shank
Works as described. Much better than antique version I had. The shaft inserts 2 1/2 inches further into the receiver hitch. The access to tighten nut for the ball is straight in - very good. The ball height adjustment places the ball at correct height. Arrived the day promised. Happy customer.
I couldn't believe that I could still get this part to work with the weight distribution bars on my 1968 KenCraft camper, though I'm sure the hitch system was a later addition to the trailer. My one problem is that the shank was not long enough for the camper to run level when hitched to my stock-height 2018 Ford F150, so I had to order a longer shank as well. I wish I could have ordered just the head, but it was not available on its own. Alternatively, I wish Reese offered a longer shank option to match today's taller trucks. I think I would have been out of luck if I owned a Super Duty!
This year I moved my wife and I accross the continental United States to start a business. In order to do this, I had to borrow my father-in-laws awesome trailer, and with it, everything else I needed to move all our worldly possesions from Colorado to North Carolina.
After arriving in Raleigh, we had the unfortunate reminder that life isn't fair when our trailer hitch was stolen off the truck. So while we moved everything into the new place, I had to scramble around trying to find the part we needed to return the trailer. I had ZERO clue about what had been stolen, and the terminology was a massive hurdle.
I came here, on the good advice by the manufacturer themselves, and they answered my question so quickly. I had a back-and-forth with the wonderful customer service people (multiple, amazing customer service people. Dealt with 3, and all 3 of them were helpful, friendly, informative, and patient with my lack of trailer knowledge.).
So I was missing what turned out to be a Trunnion and Shank, and not only did they help me find this peice of equipment, but they even had the cheapest price! (I know, I looked everywhere)
They got the equipment to me quickly, with free shipping, and it only took a week to get to me! Now I'll never have to tell my father-in-law and maybe wait till christmas to make a fool of myself. Thanks etrailer!
As always etrailer has come to my rescue for needed parts and supplies for my travel trailer and pickup truck. I crack the old shank on my 21 years Reese WD system and they were the most affordable and super fast with shipping. Now I could get back on the road and head home out west. You guys are awesome.
GREAT TO DO BUSINESS WITH
This hitch replaces an older Reese draw bar and hitch of the same type which I retired due to its age. The draw bar was 25 years old, the head was 10 years old. I'm using it in conjunction with a Reese double cam sway control to tow a 36 ft., 9000 lbs. travel trailer. I'm towing with a GMC 3500 Duramax dually and the set-up is so stable you don't even feel that you are towing. I towed in a 40 mph cross wind and was amazed by the stability. Before the GMC 3500 I used the same hitch with a Suburban 2500, which exhibited some sway in strong wind conditions with the 36 ft. trailer, but towed very stable with a 32 ft. travel trailer.
We were at a complete loss when someone stole our Reese hitch while we were in Yuma, AZ. Reese parts department gave me the part number and Etrailer had it in stock. I spoke with Lori late in the afternoon and explained our situation. Lori, the parts department, and shipping went above and beyond to get it out that day. Long story short, we had it on in a couple days. This is not the first time I've worked with Etrailer, just the first I shared my experience. They always come through for you.
Was very pleased with how quickly order was delivered. Had obvious approximately 1/8" gap between Weight Distributing Head and hitch bar where bolts go through. Instructions said "Use the shim provided when needed to fill any gap between Weight Distributing Head ..." No shim included. Called etrailer and was told shim kit is optional and on back-order. Seems like shim should be included if needed, or at least a note in product description. RP54980 Replacement Head and Shank. Be advised, may have to make shim.
It was just what I needed to replace the old worn head and shank. It appears to be built to handle the load of our racing Kart trailer.
Anthony
4/5/2023
It works fine
Etrailer had a very fair price and free shipping at the time to boot. Everything was packed very well and email confirmations were sent every step of the way.
Exactly what I ordered and I got it very fast. High quality and heavy duty.
Glenn
7/18/2019
Ive had the hitch for a year now and I pull a 3-1/2 ton camper It works great. No problems at all great price and value for such a heavy duty hitch. I only wish I would have bought the smaller ball for the friction brake at the same time. I couldnt find one local and had to order it as well.
Both items I've ordered in the last couple of weeks arrived very quickly. There were both in the 50lb plus weight range and was packaged correctly. The items were heavy steel hitch hardware so, not much to go wrong there.
etrailer.com is awesome.
Got exactly what I ordered and in a timely manner.
I have ordered other trailer parts from etrailer and have found them to be very reliable.
I recently ordered a new truck and needed new hitch components.
I asked around with local auto parts distributors but did not get any help.
Draw Tight directed me to their on line distributor. Christine was very helpful. Guided through parts I would need. I placed order and parts were delivered in three days. Excellent service and reasonably priced.
I attempted to keep it local and went to buy it from a trailer hitch specialist up the road. They referred me to etrailer. Winning pricing, winning delivery time. Thank you!
Good product. Priced right. But more than that, much thanks to Brittany for keeping on contact and making sure I was informed: My order was significantly delayed due to a back order, she let me know every detail with my order. Thanks a ton, Brittany
Quick shipping, great price and excellent product
Great service, parts arrived when expec ted
Great product. Works as expected. Great quality.
Ordering was easy and all my parts arrived faster than expected.
I needed this hitch for my camper since we were leaving in 6 days to go on a two week vacation. I got the right hitch and got it even faster than promised! Excellent service.
the part works and the nuts were installed to spec's prior to shipping
thank you, I will order from you all again next time
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Bert
5/4/2025
GREAT. My original drawbar was so short it bent the receiver. This one works perfect. No issues